Google has recently announced additional enhancements to the Search Console, focusing on improving how users manage and secure ownership tokens. These tokens are crucial for verifying the ownership of websites not only in Search Console but also in Merchant Center and other Google platforms.
Previously, there have been instances where ownership tokens were accidentally left on websites by former owners, posing potential security risks. To address this, Google first made improvements to their user and permissions management report in February 2023. The latest updates, rolled out recently, aim to further increase the accuracy of token management and reflect the current state of any tokens that are no longer in use.
Here’s how you can manage unused ownership tokens with the new system:
- Navigate to the ‘Users and permissions’ interface: This can be found directly in your Search Console dashboard.
- Identify unused tokens: Click on “Unused ownership tokens” to see a list of all tokens that are not actively being used.
- Select and remove: Choose which tokens you would like to remove and click “Remove”.
- Verify removal: Finally, click “Verify removal” to ensure that the token has been successfully deleted from your site.
As a best practice, Google recommends that whenever you remove a user who was previously a verified owner of your site, you should also make sure to remove all associated verification tokens. This update enhances your ability to ensure that former owners can no longer access the site properties.
These changes make it easier for website administrators to maintain their sites securely and efficiently, ensuring that only current, relevant users have access.
